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4 Easy Hacks to Fix Static Cling, Itchy Wool, and Other Winter Wardrobe Bothers

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From static cling in your comfy fleece to a lost button from your favorite jacket, our clever tricks will take your winter wardrobe argh to oh-so-cozy in seconds!

Ditch itchy wool with conditioner.

Nothing keeps you as cozy as a wool scarf or sweater, but the fibers can be scratchy on your skin. The fix: hair conditioner. “Simply dampen the garment and gently massage about 1⁄3 cup of hair conditioner into the fibers. Let soak about 10 minutes, then rinse,” says Lisa Sanchez, fashion editor of The Nines (DressTheNines.com). The conditioner will soften the fibers just like it does your hair, making the wool softer and gentler on your skin.

Protect pretty suede with a tea light candle.

Love wearing your pretty suede shoes, but hate the idea of weather damage? Grab a candle! Gently rub the cold wax — be sure to use a white candle — over your shoes, creating a thin, even coating. “Your shoes will be white, but don’t panic,” assures Sanchez. “Take a blow-dryer and heat the layer of wax until it dries clear, creating a weatherproof coating.”

Sidestep static fast with hand lotion.

At the end of a long day, you curl up for some quality time with your sofa and favorite comfy clothes — the last thing you want is static shock zapping you out of your reverie. Luckily, the fix for these winter zingers is close at hand. “Just rub a little hand lotion on the inside of your clothes to ‘relax’ the fabric and diffuse static,” says Sanchez. A quick swipe of lotion adds moisture that neutralizes shocks. No lotion? Slide a slightly damp paper towel over your clothes — the moisture will neutralize the charge.

De-pill your sweaters with a dry razor.

Over time, friction from wearing and washing your sweaters can cause annoying little pills to form. The good news: It’s easy to get sweaters looking new again. “Just lay them on a flat surface and gently slide a dry razor over the pills,” says fashion designer Diane Pollack (StyleMPower.com). “The razor will gently lift the raised fuzzies without harming the sweater.”

A version of this article originally appeared in our print magazine, Woman’s World.

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